But while it may have salvaged the end of the parliamentary year, the government has deep structural problems that will be tested sooner than the next election.
Business Council of Australia chief executive Bran Black was at a working breakfast in Melbourne on Thursday when he checked his phone, which had been set on silent and face down on the table.
Upon flipping it over, Black noted about 30 fevered messages. All week, the BCA had suspected a sneaky Senate deal was afoot regarding the government’s proposed omnibus bill on industrial relations. All inquiries, however, were met with either silence or denial.
Phillip CooreyPolitical editorPhillip Coorey is the political editor based in Canberra. He is a two-time winner of the Paul Lyneham award for press gallery excellence. Connect with Phillip on Facebook and Twitter. Email Phillip at pcoorey@afr.com
